LADY DIANA, PRINCESS OF FASHION

The whole world still remembers Lady Di's generosity (she wasn't nicknamed Princess of hearts for nothing), her charisma and her developed sense of style. Over time, she imposed her personal touch within the royal family, despite often feeling excluded over time. It is her tumultuous story and complicated relationship with the crown, as well as her divorce from Prince Charles, which is recounted in season 5 of The Crown, now available on Netflix.

Translated onscreen by Elizabeth Debicki, Lady Diana knew some dark moments as a member of the royal family. Daughter of an aristocratic British family, Diana Spencer married the future king of England, Charles, when he was the Prince of Wales in the early 80s. For the young woman, this led to a radical life change. The story evolved under the spotlights. As Princess of Wales, even her smallest gesture was scrutinised, and she was permitted no mistakes.

On one side, Lady Di broke the codes and became the princess of the people. To her two sons, William and Harry, she taught altruism and the inclination to help those in need. On the other side, her marriage with Charles was far from idyllic and the Prince was targeted with suspicions of adultery.

From a tragically sad series of events, the look called the “Revenge Dress” was born. Worn by Lady Di, the little black dress took on a whole other dimension. A few days before her remarkable apparition, The Independent revealed an exclusive with shocking quotes from Charles in which he hints at his adulterous relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Invited to a Vanity Fair charity event, Lady Diana arrived wearing a dress by the Greek designer Christina Stambolian, a dress that inspired many articles.

With exposed shoulders and a mid-thigh length, the dress gave her the look of a cinema star. In opposition to the protocols of the crown, Lady Diana shone brightly in this dress with the sweet taste of revenge.

Épaules joliment dénudées, longueur mi-cuisse et traîne, la robe a tout de celle d'une star de cinéma. Aux antipodes des protocoles de la couronne, Lady Diana exulte dans cette robe au doux goût de vengeance (pas si) innocente. 

As always with The Crown, the resemblance between Elizabeth Debicki and Diana is troubling. Fiction follows in the footsteps of reality and in just a few episodes, the princess is reborn. For Prince William's first day at Eton College, Lady Diana appears dressed in her signature look: A lightly oversized blazer. Serious but terribly chic, the Princess of Wales always had this elegance which still inspires today.

If there's one look which has transcended time, it's this one. It's the opposite of what one would expect of a princess. However, this casual Diana look made just as much of an impression as her more sophisticated looks. A regular at the Harbour Club, a London gym, Diana was often photographed nearby wearing a very 90s uniform: an oversized jumper over cycling shorts. On her feet? A combination of high socks and trainers. It was a perfect look completed with a little chic, elegant touch in the form of a leather bag and dark sunglasses.

With the revival of 90s style, this comfy-chic outfit has returned to the forefront of the fashion scene. It's difficult to deny the evidence: Lady Diana was a real style icon. Her death in a tragic accident in Paris in 1997 beside her companion Dodi Al-Fayed marked an era and a people, all while crystallising an eternal image of a popular, beloved Princess.